The first episode of "The Avengers" and later "The Professionals" chief writer Brian Clemens 1973 anthology TV series "Thriller" which had us all tuned in for murderous suspense on Saturday nights. With a great doom-laden theme tune by Laurie Johnson, especially that two note piano motif which took you into the advert breaks, it rarely failed to deliver on its brief.
Written by Clemens himself, able now to give free rein to writing darker material, "Lady Killer" got things off to a strong start with a young Robert Powell as the handsome and suave individual who strikes up a conversation with a shy and bookish young American woman, Jenny, spending a holiday in England. Before she knows it, she's swept up in a whirlwind romance and within days married to him. He takes her to a secluded cottage in the country close to a high cliff-top just right for romantic walks but of course accidents have been known to happen up there...and just who is the mysterious person the doting husband regularly checks in with by phone and then there's the mysterious man who comes around to visit the new wife claiming to know the husband and asking after his very similar-looking, previous wife.
There are certainly plot-holes and amazing coincidences a-plenty in this re-hash of the old Hitchcock movie "Suspicion", but it's held together by good direction and performances by Powell and Barbara Feldon (late of "Get Smart") which whilst occasionally verging on the overdone, convincingly take the viewer through to the just desserts conclusion. Nice to see Clemens finding a part for Steed's last companion in "The Avengers", Linda Thorson too.
I personally remember other episodes as being stronger and more coherently plotted but still enjoyed going back in time to revisit one of the better TV series of the early 70"s which if it doesn't quite hold up today, can still stir good memories of when Saturday night TV wasn't awash with inane reality shows and endless talent programmes.
Written by Clemens himself, able now to give free rein to writing darker material, "Lady Killer" got things off to a strong start with a young Robert Powell as the handsome and suave individual who strikes up a conversation with a shy and bookish young American woman, Jenny, spending a holiday in England. Before she knows it, she's swept up in a whirlwind romance and within days married to him. He takes her to a secluded cottage in the country close to a high cliff-top just right for romantic walks but of course accidents have been known to happen up there...and just who is the mysterious person the doting husband regularly checks in with by phone and then there's the mysterious man who comes around to visit the new wife claiming to know the husband and asking after his very similar-looking, previous wife.
There are certainly plot-holes and amazing coincidences a-plenty in this re-hash of the old Hitchcock movie "Suspicion", but it's held together by good direction and performances by Powell and Barbara Feldon (late of "Get Smart") which whilst occasionally verging on the overdone, convincingly take the viewer through to the just desserts conclusion. Nice to see Clemens finding a part for Steed's last companion in "The Avengers", Linda Thorson too.
I personally remember other episodes as being stronger and more coherently plotted but still enjoyed going back in time to revisit one of the better TV series of the early 70"s which if it doesn't quite hold up today, can still stir good memories of when Saturday night TV wasn't awash with inane reality shows and endless talent programmes.